Location
State: Latvia
Region: Kurzeme
Town: Mērsrags
Other references to the location
In Mērsrags, in the sea (depth about a meter), 60 m of the seashore.
Coordinates
lat=57.3677777778, lon=23.1238888889
57° 22′ 4″ N, 23° 7′ 26″ E
Description
As to its size, the quite undistinguished stone with a a sharp peak is about 2 m high. It is well visible from the seashore, because in the stone cape it is the largest one. According to its size, it is not a great stone at all, but it is interesting as a cultural-historical, mythological stone that adds well to the landscape.
Narrative
The tale narrates that the stone cape appeared when the Devil was building a bridge across the Gulf of Riga.
Attraction
Excellent
Availability
Easily accessible. There are indication signs. The stone is located in the sea, 60 m off the seashore. From the parking lot one has to walk along the seaside. Access depends a lot on the season. In warm weather, it is quite easily accessible by wading, in winter — on ice.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
The Mērsrags municipality takes care of the arrangements and infrastructure. At the object, there is a parking lot and a sign. The brown tourism information sign is also at the Mērsrags–Rīga highway. Around the object, there is water and other small
Local info
There is no information stand on site. Inese Roze presents the narration (https://youtu.be/vCaO8phYMO4).
Capacity
41 and more
Publicity
Known
Legal Status
State property
Comments
In Latvian tales and legends the Devil is often depicted as being tall, thus it is related with large stones. The Devil is only partially human, it has also cow’s tail, billy goat’s legs and horns. The Devil in Latvian mythology is one of the most complicated images, because in folklore the Devil is described from three different perspectives. First of all, the Devil was created as a God’s counterpart during the creation and arrangement of the universe, also a close God’s neighbour. Between those two personalities there are no drastic differences so far. Secondly, the Devil is an active companion in the everyday routine of the Latvian farmers. Also here the Devil’s mischief is not all-embracing, it is rather related to a certain place and household issue. A human can win out such a Devil with his quick wit and courage. Thirdly, the Devil embodies all unlimited evil, the power that humans come across in all their household issues, an absolute antipode to God. This Devil’s image had appeared largely under the influence of Christianity. Characteristics attributed to the Devil in tales and legends have often been wound together — Devil’s enormous physical strength, as well as simplemindedness and stupidity often go together with pronounced evilness and slyness. The Devil both bothers, deceives and fools humans, but at the end it turns out that the humans are still superior to the Devil due to their imagination and quick wit.
